I don't know about how big Bill's business is and I can not speak for him.

But I can speak for me from the standpoint of a small time guy working out of the garage. I do cam chain tensioners for a variety of models. I started out doing it because I needed one and made five. It grew. Now it's not quite as much fun, but I still do it. I do it more because I wanted to give the guy operating on a budget (aka guys like me) a part for far less than any other company.

The problems? Well, here's what can/has happen:

• Didn't order gaskets in time.
• Ran out of inventory that takes a week to get in.
• The company that rough cuts my parts had massive influx of busines putting me two weeks out on getting product.
• I misplaced an order.
• I didn't realize I missed sending out an order.
• I misread what was ordered.
• I took more than two days to ship a part - in spite of the ebay ad listing it can take up to 10 days.
• I requested more information from the buyer, but apparently the buyer didn't read their email.
• I ran a shade low on cash and had to wait for payday from my real job.
• I had to grade homework.
• The supplier got the wrong parts for me (specifically I got serrated flange nuts instead of smooth flange nuts).
• I ordered the wrong parts in error (wrong length bolts for my need).
• I went riding for a weekend.
• I had personal business or family in for some time.
• Unheated garage in 20 degree weather.

That is what happens with a one guy operation... I forgot when I was sick for a week.

Sometimes I just want to say screw it and quit, but I just keep going on because there are the times when it's fun and communicating with a lot of riders, helping some. I have twice done real time over the phone advising on adjusting for riders who happened to be on cell phones and could access the bike. Kind of like why I sold bikes part time after I was out of it for a while, it can be fun and rewarding in spite of the boring or slow times. There is the extra money, but that isn't the primary thing. I keep doing it to do something new that was requested (like the KLX250 tensioner) because that is the adventure, rewarding and fun when it works as expected.

That's a bit of how it is for me and what I play with. One guy said his delivery was lost so I sent another asking for him to let me know when it showed up (UK). Never heard from him again - I truly believe he got both sets, I'm out about $80. The ones who are honest tell me when they get the parts and if they got both sets. Oh, the comment about Estonia? One of only two that were honestly lost, the other was to Namibia - dead trail after hitting customs. Both I either refunded the money or sent another to another address - at my expense. A rider complained because I didn't send the right part, I didn't have the right model of bike. I refunded his money plus return shipping to get the wrong part back - guess when I got it... (if you guessed "never", you were right), plus I actually sent him the right part then, just because I felt it was the right thing to do. You try to do what you can to do good, but not always appreciated.

When you're small time Poop happens. You do what you do because it is fun or rewarding in some way. I will tell you I do ebay sales and could care less about feedback. I don't care about it. If someone wants to complain about me, have at it, I will respond if I think I need to. It isn't life or death, losing my house or the like. It is simply a service for those who need it. For those who don't care for some short delay or problems I may encounter or make, I'm sorry. Not losing any sleep though.

Fact is as a marketing major I remember one specific rule of sales. For every dissatisfied customer they will tell a hundred, for every satisfied customer they may tell one other. Obviously the satisfied customers are quietest. I take that into account when I am buying. If I see some negative I will weigh it against the positive. Example - looking at freezers, I found one had a dissatisfaction rate of 5% of the reviews. With the dissatisfied being most likely to post and the majority of satisfied not posting I figure with a 95% satisfaction rate the actual true rate is far higher.

Same with bike stuff. I also like to buy from small guys like me. They're accessable. One reason I do what I do is because the big name company didn't respond to my request for help and one of their retailers couldn't be troubled to measure a part to see if it would work. I have done all but one tensioner model I make from requests that others have contacted me and made. That one is the one that fit my two bikes. I think I currently have around 15 other tensioner models (most fit multiple bikes) all because someone asked. The good part about dealing with someone who will talk to you as most small guys will.

By the way - it was fun to write the essay!

 

Just for the record about this site not moderating or over moderating, its been really quiet around here for years, in fact besides the spam stuff that needs to be deleted on a nearly daily basis, we haven't had anything remotely like this in a long time. That in of itself is a great testimony to how we all get along here. We should all be proud, and I mean all, mods all the members including the original poster that its not something that we take lightly and we all want to move forward.

 

A lot has been said in this thread. Thanks for the support from everyone who felt like unwarranted, biased censorship is not in the interest of this forum.

Anyway, I finally got the parts from Bill and completed the 351 install. My original intent was to present an objective view and feedback of the 351 experience to any else who may be in the market. That was my sole purpose, so I will document some of my thoughts here:

• Buying experience - 8/10. - I know some people had trouble getting a hold of Bill, but it was a very easy and painless buying experience. His website lists all the prices, I called, and after a 5 minute conversation, paypal payment was on the way to him. He charges a 3% paypal surcharge which bites, and for some reason won't provide a tracking number for the package so you have no way of knowing where it is.
• Customer service - 6/10. - For all the reasons documented earlier in this thread, Bill's customer service leaves much to be desired. Being a nice guy doesn't mean the same as professional customer service. I won't rehash. I will say though, that amidst all the confusion and delays, Bill remembered to get me the 351 decals made from some shop of his.
• Packaging - 6/10. - I didn't have any products damaged in transit like Illking, but nothing was labeled. There were zero instructions and the whole thing was a case of "here, help yourself" Yes, it's obviously an aftermarket DIY kit, but my cylinder was stamped with the number 295 and if you have done this 295 times, I would think you would document some basic tips/instructions. Is that a spare/aftermarket AF screw in the zip lock or the stock one? Do you recommend a piston ring compressor tool or just do it by hand? Do the ring gaps need to be aligned a specific way or not? Should we use gasket maker on the base or head gasket or is it not necessary? Does the carb come out the top or the side? Having even a half page checklist that answers some of these questions would have cut down my install time significantly.
• Product quality - 9/10. - As we always knew, Bill does fantastic work. The components themselves seem to be of very high quality and the machining is excellent also. The bike started up and ran fine like nothing happened. Only reason this is not a 10 is because I haven't broken in or tested it yet.

 

Most of those questions could be answered in the service manual. I honestly would not attempt taking any motor apart without one. How did you know the torque values? How did you know how to time it correctly? Did you count the timing chain links to make sure it was right? If you are attempting to install a big bore kit yourself its not his responsibility to tell you what tools are needed. Its not a job for someone that doesn't know what they are doing. I used a ring compressor. How ever you can get the carb out, i found it easiest to take it out the top. The gaps in the rings are addressed in the service manual, i believe it said 30 degrees apart.

I didnt receive any kind of AF screw with my kit. Not sure what it was.

On any performance part for a bike, car, or truck i have ever seen does not come with directions on how to install it or how to disassemble the vehicle.

 

EMS, dude, seriously, from all the feedback you have gotten on this thread, you should have already learned.

Don't embarass yourself any further by acting like Bill or any other vendors mouth piece. Just let it go, have a nice day.

 

I agree.

 

Dude, really? Should he be holding your hand also? This is why we have shop manuals and read them. If you got a simple sheet, then you'd be complaining about all the details that weren't on the sheet.

 

Sorry to disappoint you, but i dont give a **** what you or anyone else on this forum or on this planet thinks of me, and i dont think of any of you at all.

My reply had nothing to do with who you got the parts from. Like i said no instructions come with any performance part for any vehicle. When you buy new pistons for a GM truck they dont tell you every step on how to install them. Your post was ridiculous for various reasons, despite me actually answering some of your questions respectfully. So its Bill's fault you dont know how to remove the carb or compress piston rings? And you are mad at me because i pointed the obvious out? That's funny.

 

PEAcE.

 

If you don't give a **** what anyone thinks, then don't be a moderator. Simple. Just stand down, quit, go do whatever else you give a **** about.

Read my post # 83 again. I think it is objective, measured and informative. Don't be a douche bag.